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M D o N No. 235,261. Patented Dec. 7,1880.

INVENTOR J Wmmssns:

ATTORNEYS.

N-F'ETERS, FHOTU-UTHOGRAPMER. WASHINGY NITED STATES PATENT Trio.

LEWIS E. LEIGH, OF NEW HAVEN, CONNECTICUT, ASSIGNOR TO HIMSELF AND LEWISLEIGH, OF SAME PLACE.

DEVICE FOR STRETCHING AND SMOOTHING THREAD.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 235,261, dated December'7, 1880,

Application filed August 6, 1880. (N model.)

To all whom it may concern Be it known that LLnwrs E; LEIGH, of NewHaven, in the county of New Haven and State of Connecticut, haveinvented a new and Improved Device for Stretching and Smoothing Thread,of which the following is a specification.

The object of this invention is to obtain an even tension of any desireddegree upon all 19 threads in the different processes of manufacture andwinding, especially upon silk threads in twist, sewin gs, floss,embroidery, organzine, tram, and all threads used for sewing, weaving,and covering.

Figure 1 is a side elevation of the device in operation, partly insection. Fig. 2 is a plan of the same on line xx, Fig. 1.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts.

In the drawings, A represents a bobbinstand, supporting on its spindlea. a bobbin, B, which holds the unstretched thread B.

The weighted cap consists of a circular plate or disk, C, set on top ofthe bobbin B and held in place thereon by a spindle, C, that passesvertically and centrally through said disk 0 into the bore of the bobbinB, and extends above the disk C, to receive and hold what weights, D,may be required for increas- 0 ing the pressure of the said cap 0 uponthe bobbin B. Projecting horizontally forward from the disk C is an arm,E, having one or more fingers, E, that extend downward parallel with thebarrel of the bobbin B, and as 3 5 far as the bottom thereof, and onthese fingers E are preferably fixed the revolving sleeves E. In frontof these fingers E is rigidly secured an upright Y-shaped standard, F,provided with a vertical socket, c, in the crotch between thespreading-arms. Onthe face of this standard F a sheave, G, revolving inavertical plane, is secured on screw bolt or pin (1, with its edgetoward the fingers E and bobbin B, and on the extremity of each arm ofsaid standard F 5 a vertically revolving sheave, G G, respectively, issecured in the same manner.

The regulator H consists of a. rod, H, provided with a collar, g,entered vertically in the socket c of the standard F, and having pivotedon its face, by a screw or pin, f, a sheave,

F, that revolves in a vertical plane, while weights I are set over andupon the upper end of said rod H and rest upon the collar gthereof.

K represents a drum, revolving at a higher elevation than are the partsabove described, and L represents a bobbin, spindle, or spool, on whichthe stretched thread is wound.

The operation of the device is 'as follows: The bobbin B, with the roughunstretched thread B, is placed in position on the stand A, asshown, andthe cap C, with its auxiliary parts, is set on the top of said bobbin B.The thread B is then passed across the faces of the sleeves E, thenceunder the sheave G, and over the sheave G and around the sheave G,around the drum K and the bobbin, spindle, or spool L, as shown. Motionbeing then given to the drumK and spindle or spool L, the thread B iswound upon said spool or spindleL; but throughout the operation the saidthread B is 76 subjected to a tension or strain that may be measured bythe frictional resistance of the bobbin B in turning, by the drag orpressure of the fingers or sleeves E E against the said thread B, and bythe frictional resistance of the sheaves G G G; and if this tension orstrain upon the thread B be properly adj usted, the said thread will besuitably stretched and smoothed.

To increase the strain or tension upon the 230 thread, weights D D areplaced upon the cap C, so that the frictional resistance or inertia ofthe bobbin B is increased and the lateral drag orpressure of the fingersE E augmented. The sheave F of the regulator H also rests upon thethread B as said thread is unwound from the bobbin B, said regulator Hrising as the strain upon the thread is increased from any cause, andfalling as the strain diminishes.

When it is desired still further to increase 0 the strain or tensionupon said thread B, weights I may be added to the regulator H, as shown.

I do not confine myself to the precise construction of the bobbin-capand attachments 5 as herein shown, as in some instances and for somepurposes the arms thereof, with or without sleeves, may be differentlyarranged and. increased in number, and the cap itself may be usedwithout added weights. Ioo

Having thus fully described my invention,] 1 combination with thesheaves G G G and claim as new and desire to secure by Letters thesoeketed standard F, as and for the pur- Patentpose set forth.

1. An improved device for stretching and i 4. The combinatiou,with standA, provided smoothing threads, constructed substantially with spindle aand the sleeves E, of the as herein shown and described, consisting: ofsheaves G G G", regulator H, having sheave the bobbin-stand, cap C,provided with arm F, and soeketed standard F,a.ll arranged subandfingers 1d E, socketed standard 1*, with stantially as shown anddescribed. revolving sheaves G (l G", and regulator 11, 5. Thecombination, with the cap 0, proprovided withsheave1,arranged as setforth. vidcd with arm and fingers E E, of the sleeves 2. In adevice forstretchingand smoothing E, substantially as herein shown and dethreads,the combination of the cap C, pro scribed. Vided with spindle U, and armI), provided LEWIS E. LEIGH. with fingers 1*),snbstantially as hereinshown \Vitnesses:

DAVID STRoUsE, JAMES A. Woons.

and described.

3. The regulator ll, having sheave F, in

